MR MUSCLE
Nissan hoping to clean up as SUV fans get ready to splash their cash on new Qashqai
If you think the world has gone SUV bonkers, then blame Nissan.
Ten years ago, they introduced us to the Qashqai and it has been a love affair ever since.
Almost every manufacturer have embraced what is really no longer a utility vehicle, so we have crossover/ SUVs in every conceivable size and form, from small city run-arounds to giant seven-seaters.
And now we have the latest version of this bestselling car. From the outside, it is undeniably a Qashqai but is more muscular and aggressive.
The bonnet is sleeker with sharp creases and the Qashqai I am driving,ng, the Tekna +, sits on 19in diamond-cutut wheels. The roof bars sweep to the rear where the aerial has been replaced by a shark’s fin antenna.
This serves several purposes – it enhances the sat nav on the car, gives it a sportier look and needs less roof clearance in a garage.
The front on the Tekna+ modell has the signature V-motion grillee but the 3D badge has been flattenedd out to allow radar waves to pass through as part of the Intelligent Emergency Braking system which, in turn, will form part of Nissan’s ProPilot autonomous driving system to be introduced next year.
One other important difference in the new Qashqai is the trim range. The Tekna + line is a premium model.
The interior is very high quality with lots of leather, piano black gloss and chrome and a carbon fibre look. The leather can also come in plum.
The steering wheel has a f latbottomed finish makingg it easier to get in and out of the car but the seats are still based on Nasa technology to reduce fatigue. The front seats are heated and there is plenty of legroom in the rear, still giving you a large boot space (401 litres) with an adjustable floor. The dash is very clear and easy. The 7in colour touchscreen is the focus of the entertainment systems and sat nav and, in the Tekna+, there is a Bose sound system specially designed for Nissan with eight speakers. I drove the 1.5 dCI, which is the lower-powered lower diesel with 110ps underunde the bonnet and CO2 emissionsemis of only 99g/km. ThisTh engine really suited the QashqaiQash and it was lively and pushy on tthe road. It was easy to drive, poweringpow smoothly up the sixspeedspe gearbox. It’s comfortable and feels remarkably safe. IfI you liked the old version of the Qashqai, you’ll love this new model.